QUETTA, April 18: Mutton and beef prices in Balochistan have increased because of smuggling of cattle and goats to Iran and Afghanistan. A large number of cattle is brought to Taftan and Chaman daily for smuggling to Iran and Afghanistan for a better price.

Officials and Nazims have issued permits to people for passage of thousands of cattle through their districts. The permits, meant for local consumption, are misused by the smugglers in the border districts.

According to sources, Rs1,000 per cow or ox is charged for allowing their transportation. Mutton was sold for Rs80 per kilogramme prior to the drought. The shepherds were forced to sell goats and sheep at throwaway price due to severe drought.

According to sources, more than 85 per cent of the livestock in the province was lost during the six years of drought. Butchers in the local market were forced to buy animals from Sindh and Punjab to meet the growing demand.

During the bird flu scare, the prices shot up to Rs200 per kilogramme for mutton and Rs110 for beef. The butchers accuse the Nazims and government officials of allowing smuggling of cattle, leading to the rise in meat prices.

"We cannot sell mutton and beef on the rate fixed by the price committee," a butcher, Mohammad Afzal, said. He said livestock was not available in Balochistan and goats and cattle had to be purchased from Sindh and Punjab. "No one is monitoring the prices of essential goods in the provincial capital," a consumer said.